Leg guard



A. L, B KET LEG UARD Filed Oct.v 30, 1931 ATTO EYS 'Patented Get. 24, 1933 STATES} PATENT OFFICE 1- 3 Claims.

- My invention relates to leg guardsto be worn byithose engaged in games where protectionof the legs and knees is desirable. particularly adapted for 'use in playing ice hockey.

The invention seeks to provide, among other objects, a lightweight guard which will not be warped, or otherwise deleteriously affected, by moisture, which will have high impact value, and which will tend to cushion severe blows and thus protect the wearer from injury.

The invention comprises the combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

Two exemplifications of my invention are shown in the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. l is a perspective View of a preferred form of leg guard embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view thereof; Fig. 4. is a detail view thereof.

Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate modifications.

In the accompanying drawing 1 designates a trough-shaped guard section intended to are over and cover the front of the wearers leg below the knee, and 2. designates a similar trough-shaped guard section intended to are over and cover the knee. At their contiguous edges the sections are preferably pivotally connected to each other.

Each section is formed of laminations of fabric, as canvas, impregnated with a bindingmedium, as a phenolithic condensation product, the Whole being then molded under high pressure and heated to form a thin, compact, board-like structure exhibiting high impact value and practically no flexibility in a direction transverse to its length, and slight flexibility in a direction parallel to its longer axis, or at a slight angle thereto. Thus the lengthwise edges of the sections can be flexed slightly toward each other.

A. section of the desired stiffness can be obtained by using about five or six layers of light canvas, or similar material.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 3, the lower edge of the section 2 is offset at 3 to receive the upper marginal edge portion of the section 1, and rivets el are passed through the overlapping portions of the sections 1 and 2 adjacent their lengthwise edges for pivotally connecting these sections to each other.

In the modified form of the invention, the knee and leg sections are connected to each other by a band of laminated fabric, or the like, hav- The article is in the molding operation of the latter.

ing marginal portions molded into the kneeand leg sections during the formation thereof, and an intermediate'curved portion which is sufiiciently stifi to normally hold the two sections in alignment and sufficiently flexible to permit 0 of the pivotal movement of one in relation to the other. The inner surfaces of the sections 1 and 2 ar intended to are over the knee and. portion of the leg below the knee of the wearer of the guard and not make contact therewith.

Contact is made by bands 4, 5 and 6 suspended from lengthwise edges of the guards. Preferably two bands designated 5 and 6 and spaced widely apart from each other are associated with the guard section 1 and a'single band designated 4 is associated with the guard section 2. Each band is in length shorter than the circumferential distance between the lengthwise edges of the guard, so that the bands are always held in spaced apart relation to the inner curved surfaces of the guard. If desired, a relatively soft marginal band 7 may be provided at the upper edge of the section 2 and a relatively soft band 8 at the lower edge of the section l.

In the exemplification of the invention shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the band 7 is provided by not subjecting marginal edge portions of the laminations forming the section 2 to pressure I The resistance to impact of the sections is so high that they will effectually protect the wearer of the guard from impact of the puck against the same, or the blows which might be received from the clubs by which the puck is propelled.

In playing ice hocke the players not infrequently are thrown, or fall, with considerable force on one or both knees. In such event, one wearing the described guard would have the shock, or blow, which, inthe absence. of the 9 guard, would be received on the knee cap, cushioned to a very considerable extent, since the force of the fall would be transmittedby the band 4 to the lengthwise edges of the section 2, which would tend to draw them in, so that they 1' make contact with the sides of the knee of the wearer, and the whole portion of the section 2 between the lengthwise edges would yield, or would be flexed, to effect a cushioning action.

An important feature of my invention re- 105 sides in the plan provided for securing the bands 4, 5 and 6 to the guards. As shown in the accompanying drawing, end portions'of the bands are molded between laminations of the guard and are thus retained in place by the same I10 medium utilized for securing the several laminations to one another.

Each band may, if desired be made initially of two sections disconnected from each other. In the guard making operation, one end of each section is laid between adjacent impregnated layers and when the assembled structure is placed in the mold, the free portions of the band sections can be thrown out of the way of the mold parts.

After the completion of the molding operation, the free portions of the band sections can be suitably connected to each other, as by sewing them together.

The structure of the guard is such that it may be interposed between the leg of the wearer and the leg portion of the tights worn by him, or his stocking, and will be sufficiently held in place thereby Without other retaining means.

The guard may be equipped with retaining straps or bands of familiar form attached to the edge portions of the guard for passing around the back of the wearers leg.

Each band l, 5 or 6 serves as a rest or support within the concave side of the guard for the leg whether it be the knee portion of the leg orthe shin portion.

I claim: 1

1. A leg guard comprising the guard member proper of trough shape and a rest member spaced apart from and Within the concave inner side of the guard, said member extending over that edge portionof the guard which lies adjacent the trough, and molded into connection with the guard wall, the said molded connection being at a point intermediate the inner and outer faces of the guard member, substantially as described.

2. A trough shaped guard for the knee having a bearing member against which the knee contacts, said member being within the concave side of the guard spaced apart therefrom and extending over the inside edge of said guard and being molded into said guard at a point intermediate the inner and outer faces of the guard member, said guard being yieldable under impact.

3. A trough shaped guard molded from laminated fabric sheets, having a rest member spaced apart from and Within the concave inner side of the guard, said member extending over that edge portion of the guard which lies adjacent the trough and being molded between the laminations of the guard, substantially as described. 7

ALAN L. BECKET. 

